Is any information of mine stored in IRC?
reddit / irc

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ManualsAreBS · 2016-09-26 05:32

Hi.

I just switched from Windows to Linux Mint (wanted a lighter system)
and while checking the applications I opened Hexchat, and noticed it
used my computer name which happened to be my actual name. I logged
off as I didn't see any use for it by closing the window.

I'm not paranoid around the internet, but the fewer places I'm showing
the better.

So, is there any trace of me logging in there? On the user list as
offline? I checked using a live session from usb and didn't show up,
but you all know better than me.

Thank you.

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epakai · 2016-09-26 07:00

If you connected to a server then there was probably a log generated
of that connection. I don't know where you get the idea that it used
your computer name. Default nickname is set by your user name. There
is a real name field that might be set from information you entered
about your user when you set up Mint as well.

Even if you connected to a server and your connection was logged these
logs are generally non-public. If you joined a channel all bets are
off. Tons of public channels are logged and the logs made available
online. Even if the logs aren't being published anyone in that channel
with a logging client now has a record.

If you have real concerns about not having your name attached to
certain activities then you probably shouldn't have it in your
computer at all. Otherwise this is a non-concern.

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faghat · 2016-09-26 07:03

Nothing public on the irc network, no.

However, a lot of people keep logs of their irc chats, so if anyone
ever `whois` you, then it's likely they'll have the info saved in a
text file somewhere. It's also possible someone could have uploaded a
chatlog to pastebin or what have you for any reason.

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ManualsAreBS · 2016-09-26 09:43

It is the linux mint help channel that connects automatically when
opening the application, doesn't seem to be anything strange or
dangerous (there were many users that logged in and quickly logged
off, probably messing around the OS like me :))

Not concerned about the name appearing at all (it's widely around the
internet when I used to put it on whatever account I made), it was
just an unexpected behaviour that got me by surprise.
It was a fresh install so no information to be worried about, too. I
only wanted to not be showing as offline, or in the user list, but a
log is fine.

Thanks.

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epakai · 2016-09-26 10:36

In that sense IRC is different than lots of communication services.
Servers sometimes offer user registration, but generally connecting to
a server doesn't have any lasting effect like account creation. There
aren't buddy lists or straightforward ways to verify someone using a
nick is the same person who was using it in a previous conversation.
(Registration, and subsequent authentication sort of does this, but it
still requires users to be vigilant and check certain things)

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[deleted] · 2016-09-26 22:32

[deleted]